Leading Life Science – See something that no one ever sees.

February 12, 2015 - 4 minutes read

If you’re looking to take your research from bench to business, and you love the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship, then we’ve got a show for you.

We get to hear how this is done in this episode of the Leading Life Science Radio Podcast, with today’s guest, Dr. Jonathan Thon. He’s a Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. He’s also a budding entrepreneur, who’s bringing his great research to the commercial sector with his company, Platelet Biogenesis.

I’m super excited to introduce Jonathan. He’s one of the few young academic powerhouses who’s been brave and bold enough to venture into the world of entrepreneurial business.

Many young career scientist don’t think they have what it takes, but he argues against that belief. He’s written an amazing piece in Cell Press, highlighting why young scientists are ideal entrepreneurs. Check it out and listen to the show to hear how he’s doing it.

I’ve known him for awhile now, and he was gracious enough to come on to the show to share his journey. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot.

I encourage you to give feedback and to let us know what you like, or don’t like about the episode. Your constructive feedback will help to improve future episodes. We’re looking to deliver great lessons and information to young future scientific leaders, like you.

Leadership may feel like a lonely journey, but each of our stories tell more familiar one.

So, let’s listen in on this one:

Today’s show we ask Jonathan some of the following questions that has helped him to lead such an amazingly successful research team:

What made you decide to pursue the entrepreneurial route?

Who were your inspirational leaders in science?

What strategy did you use to make the switch to business?

How do you communicate your science in the business world?

What is a critical skill(s) that has helped you?

SOME OF WHAT WE LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

Graduate and postdoc training has skills that can be translated in the entrepreneurial world.

Set your eyes on a specific destination and make a B-line for it.

There is no clear path. You make the path.

Business can be self taught.

Your graduate training gives you the skills on how to make the most of limited resources.

Learn how to sell by figuring out the value of your interested party or investors.

Thanks to Dr. Jonathan Thon for joining us today to talk about his journey to lead a team of dedicated scientists to unraveling the mysteries behind platelet biology and what it takes to be a life science entrepreneur.

Also, thank you for listening and contributing. If you like the show, please leave a comment and subscribe.

If there’s a great mentor or leader that has helped you in your career in the life sciences, please let us know. We’d love to share their story with the rest of the community so that we may all learn.